The General Assembly, Guided by the purposes and principles
of the Charter
of the United Nations, and good faith in the fulfilment
of the obligations assumed by States in accordance with the Charter, Affirming that indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples, while recognizing the right
of all peoples to be different, to consider themselves different, and to be respected as
such, Affirming also that all peoples contribute to the diversity and richness
of civilizations and cultures, which constitute the common heritage
of humankind, Affirming further that all doctrines, policies and practices based on or advocating superiority
of peoples or individuals on the basis
of national origin or racial, religious, ethnic or cultural differences are racist, scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust, Reaffirming that indigenous peoples, in the exercise
of their rights, should be free from discrimination
of any
kind, Concerned that indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result
of, inter alia, their colonization and dispossession
of their lands, territories and resources, thus preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests, Recognizing the urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights
of indigenous peoples which derive from their political, economic and social structures and from their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands, territories and resources, Recognizing also the urgent need to respect and promote the rights
of indigenous peoples affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive
arrangements with States, Welcoming the fact that indigenous peoples are organizing themselves for political, economic, social and cultural enhancement and in order to bring to an end all forms
of discrimination and oppression wherever they occur, Convinced that control by indigenous peoples over developments affecting them and their lands, territories and resources will enable them to maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and traditions, and to promote their development in accordance with their aspirations and needs, Recognizing that respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management
of the environment, Emphasizing the contribution
of the demilitarization
of the lands and territories
of indigenous peoples to peace, economic and social progress and development, understanding and friendly relations among nations and peoples
of the world, Recognizing in particular the right
of indigenous families and communities to retain shared responsibility for the upbringing, training, education and well - being
of their children, consistent with the rights
of the child, Considering that the rights affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive
arrangements between States and indigenous peoples are, in some situations, matters
of international concern, interest, responsibility and character, Considering also that treaties, agreements and other constructive
arrangements, and the relationship they represent, are the basis for a strengthened partnership between indigenous peoples and States, Acknowledging that the Charter
of the United Nations, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 2 as well as the Vienna Declaration and Programme
of Action, (3) affirm the fundamental importance
of the right to self - determination
of all peoples, by virtue
of which they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development, Bearing in mind that nothing in this Declaration may be used to deny any peoples their right to self - determination, exercised in conformity with international law, Convinced that the recognition
of the rights
of indigenous peoples in this Declaration will enhance harmonious and cooperative relations between the State and indigenous peoples, based on principles
of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, non-discrimination and good faith, Encouraging States to comply with and effectively implement all their obligations as they apply to indigenous peoples under international instruments, in particular those related to human rights, in consultation and cooperation with the peoples concerned,
So far from these topics being off - limits, any MHP seeking appointment in a court case needs to fully inform the parties prior to their consent [123],
of information about the following
kinds of potentials for bias and agenda: whether the MHP has been married or divorced, and how many times, and under what
kinds of circumstances, and how the MHP currently feels about those events; whether, if divorced, the MHP went through litigation over custody or property, and
such details as whether the MHP had problems paying or receiving child support, as well as the custody
arrangements of the MHP's own children and how these worked out and everyone's feelings about them; the MHP's own personal experience taking care
of and spending time with children, within and without the scope
of «parenting», and with regard to parenting, whether that was parenting as a primary caregiver, married or single parent, with or without household and third party help, or as a working parent or stay - home parent, and for how many children, and for how long, and the outcomes from all
of that; i.e. how much time has this person actually spent caring for children on his or her own, and how well did this person's own family systems function, and is this person in fact an «expert» in creating a functioning family and raising happy, healthy, successful children with good outcomes, nay «best» outcomes, thoroughly well - adjusted and having reached the very pinnacles
of their innate potential.